New Delhi, Feb. 19 -- Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg faced sustained questioning in a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday as a landmark trial over social media harms moved into a pivotal phase, with plaintiffs arguing that platforms such as Instagram were deliberately designed to keep young users hooked despite internal warnings.

The case, being heard in Los Angeles Superior Court, is one of several major lawsuits this year that experts have likened to the industry's "Big Tobacco" moment. At its core is a claim brought by a 20-year-old woman, known in court filings as KGM, who says her compulsive use of Instagram and YouTube worsened her depression and suicidal thoughts. Her lawsuit is one of about 20 bellwether cases being used to ...